 With everyone being cooped up at home on quarantine, we know that we need to exercise at some point, and our pups need to be walked too. Some dog breeds need up to two hours of daily exercise! But could there be a better way to integrate the two to make it fun and efficient for both pup and pet parent?! Being both a lover of efficiency and a lover of dogs, I set out to answer this question for myself and Toto, since Wheaten Terriers are notoriously high drive, hyper dogs ( especially when they are in their teenage years, like Toto is)! The obvious first things that came to mind were jogging. I got geared up, ready in my running outfit, with my pup, good to go. However, once we got outside and onto the path I quickly realized that (and Terrier owners will likely know this) is that Terrier breeds are not particularly keen on runs! They like to do their own thing: sniff around, dig some holes, and investigate. Toto kept biting the leash, going very slow, being distracted like he is, and overall not that enthusiastic! What a bummer, since this type of activity would have been perfect (in my mind!). Next, I thought of agility courses. But depending on where you are located, that may not always be available or free either. So being the problem solver that I like to call myself, I came up with some alternative ideas of what you can do if your dog is an adult, pup, older breed, small breed, or just likes to be a little unconventional! First, some words of caution:
Activities for ALL Dogs (Puppies, Older Dogs, Small Breeds included) 1. AGILITY You don't need to live close to a fancy agility course to get creative! Do some exploring of your neighbourhood parks, and community area for any features such as:
2. SWIM If you live close to a lake, beach, or river and your pup isn't shy of the water it is a great option. I highly recommend using a lifejacket for dogs unless you are confident in your dog's swimming ability. Another option is going to a dog swim center (if that is available to you). It's basically like an indoor pool for dogs! 3. TRAIL WALKS / HIKES / SNOWSHOE This is a great activity for all ages and dog breeds. Picking a trail that is suited for both your ability and your pup's is crucial, and packing the right gear for the type and length of trip. Extra water and a bowl, and a jacket or booties (if your dog gets cold) is a must if going on a longer trail. Be sure to do a little research ahead of time to check if the trail you have in mind is dog friendly. Here are some more tips:
4. DOG TAG Take turns running from your dog, and chasing him/her. Some dogs may not catch on at first, but if you bring great enthusiasm and a toy or treat, you could turn this into a fun active game! Activities for Adolescent and Adult Dogs 5. HILL TRAINING Got a hill nearby? This high intensity activity could be turned into interval training and fun for your pup! It can vary from running to walking, running up and walking down, or vice versa. Try for 3 sets of 3 hill climbs, taking a few minutes rest in between. Be mindful of the terrain conditions as to not injure yourself, especially in wet or cold weather. 6. CROSS COUNTRY SKIING Dogs love when their humans go at their pace (which is often running)! Some Nordic centers allow dogs, on certain portions of the trails. If not, you might be able to find a public golf course or field that is suitable for cross country skiing with your dog. Bring all the necessary gear such as water and jackets based on your dog's needs.  7. ALPINE SKIING (BACKCOUNTRY) For those who are familiar with backcountry skiing, and are doing a mellow day in easy terrain, this could be an opportunity to bring your pup along. Bringing the right gear for you and your pup is crucial, so i would only recommend this to those that have backcountry skiing training, experience, and winter travel experience with their dog already. A dog beacon could be great if you have one in case there is deep powder, or your dog gets separated. Tell somewhere where you are headed, what time you will be back, and bring lots of poop bags!  8. STAIR RUNNING Whether this is outdoors, inside your condo building, or the stairs inside your home, it is a great way to build a sweat and tire out your pup! Bring lots of water for the both of you, and avoid hot sunny days. Try starting small and building your way up - such as first walking and then building up to a run - doing 3 sets of 3 flights with a few minutes rest in between. 9. DANCING I didn't know about this concept until I saw a show about it on Netflix, where apparently there are fierce competitions internationally in dog dancing. It might be worth getting some inspiration first from video's online, but start with throwing on your favourite tune, and twirling, side hopping, getting down low, and shuffling along side your pup. The energy and excitement is sure to get them engaged! 10. JOGGING / TRAILRUN Despite my initial failure to run with Toto, I began training him with treats and positive reinforcement to encourage him to run. When he was doing well and when he responded to my command to "come" then I would reward him. This also went for "leave it" in case he got distracted by other dogs, or things on the ground. Slowly, we are working our way up, but it's still a challenge. I also recommend starting out small and working your way up in this activity, especially if you have not run for a while, or have never taken your dog on runs. Avoid hot sunny days, as both you and especially your pup can get heat stroke. Some breeds are more sensitive to heat than others, so it's not something to be taken lightly. If your dog is panting hard, or stops frequently for rest - it means time to call it quits, and get him/her some water and shade fast. 11. STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING If this is your forte, or something you just want to try, I recommend getting you and your pup equipped with a life jacket and starting our paddling on your knees. From there, work your way up to standing, and eventually cruising. You will both be working on your core and balance, and might take the occasional dip! 12. CAMPING OR MULTI DAY BACKPACKING Saving this one for last, as it is the activity that requires the most planning and prep work. But if done right, it could be amazingly rewarding! Also recommended for those who have experience with camping and/or backpacking, and now wish to bring their pup along for the adventure! Here are some tips on organizing a single or multi-day trip:
Hopefully this has given some you some inspiration to get outside and start exploring! If you have some ideas you'd like to share that I haven't mentioned here, please let us know! 
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1. Dog Mountain Trail - Mt. Seymour Resort A short hike to a rewarding viewpoint. This 5 km roundtrip trail goes through the forest, past a lake, and can be a fun time in the snow in the winter. It's also full of dogs so it's a great way to get some puppy social time in! Note: This can be quite a busy trail on the weekends and blue-sky, sunny days, with parking limited along the road, which may add extra distance to get to the trailhead depending on how far back you have to park  2. Brothers Creek Trail - Mt. Cypress A mystical walk through the forest, with some neat historical remnants along the way. It intersects with the Baden Powell trail and many others. The trail climbs steadily in elevation, with gushing creeks and the smell of the forest. It can be quite wet in the fall/winter/spring, but is less busy than some of the other high ticket hikes, making it a nice get-away hike with your pup Note: Apparently the bridge to cross the creek has washes out, therefore a loop is not possible, but only a return trip which is about 6km  3. Stanley Park Trails If you're not feeling up to getting out of the city, then this is a great choice for that feeling of getting away...without actually getting away. Some of our longer walks take us up to 2 hours plus - you can just keep wandering the trails! It's so magical to walk among the giant old growth trees, visit the ducks at Lost Lagoon, or take in the views from Third Beach. No matter how much we go, it just never gets old Note: There is a concession at second beach in the summer, and bathrooms at every large beach  4. Arbutus Trail to Eagle Point - Lighthouse Park For a different perspective on the city skyline, try heading out to Eagle Point. It's a short hike without too much elevation change - although can be more wet in the off season months. While the main trail is quite busy, taking the Arbutus trail via the Salal Loop will guide you through more quiet parts of the forest onto some epic rocks overlooking the water. If you go early, it may be a great spot to gain some solitude while sipping on a morning coffee  5. Pacific Spirit Regional Park Trails
Similar to Stanley Park, Pacific Spirit Park offers a vast trail network that you can just wander for hours, visit with many other dogs, and not have to leave the city. While the trails can be more busy, and shared with bikes, it is a worthwhile getaway to be among giant trees, lush canopy, and the freshness of the forest! Check out more of our adventures on Instagram: thehippiedogcanada After spending an hour walking Toto in the morning, 30 minutes at lunch, 1 hour in the afternoon, and playing games in the house - I was sure that it would wear out our high energy bundle of joy. I was convincing myself that the more consistency I had, and the longer i would walk, will eventually wear him out and help my cause. However this was not the case, and the opposite was actually happening. He wanted to play for several hours after every walk, would follow me around inside the house, and did not seem to settle whatsoever. The general theory of walking your dog every day was failing miserably, and i knew that he was lacking something that not all dogs specifically require on that level.
It was not until I began doing some research into anxiety, destructive behavior, and specific breed needs that it started to dawn on me that physical exercise alone was not going to be enough to keep my pup calm and relaxed. We started working with several dog trainers, who were highly recommending incorporating some mental stimulation into our training regiment, as much as possible, as often as possible. This means training, structured play, and food dispensing puzzle toys. Here are some tips for what worked, and what didn't. DO
DON'T
The first puzzle toy we tried was the Nina Ottosson Dog Brick. We bought ours online, as I was not entirely sure if they are available in any pet stores. It wasn't the cheapest, and being the clever dog Toto is, he figured it out in about 10 minutes the first time, and 5 minutes every other time after. It will be a learning experience to see what works for you and your dog - and you could be surprised at how smart your pup can be! As the saying goes: The smart dogs can be the hardest to train! |
TotoToto is a year old Wheaten Terrier who lives in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. He has unlimited energy and an affinity for slippers and humans 
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